Homo Floresiensis

Kathy Hoang, Rebecca Dilella and Madeleine Yacoub

Figure One: Skull - Science Photo Library Source: http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/imagePopUpDetails.html?pop=1&id=694380207&pviewid=&country=10&search=cranium&matchtype=EXACT

Fossil: Who Discovered It, How and what was found?

 Peter BrownMichael MoorwoodColleaguesScientist LahrScientist Foley     Skull Arm boneJaw piecesOther bonesovered the fossil and how they discover

Figure 2: Mike Morwood, Thomas Sutikna and Bert RobertsSorce: http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/thylacoleo-1st/

Figure 3: Mike Morwood with floresiensis skullSource: http://www.wherelightmeetsdark.com/index.php?module=fatcat&fatcat%5Buser%5D=viewCategory&fatcat_id=89&module_title=newswatch

Fossil: When where the fossils found?

 

A cave in Flores, Indonesia2003. found

Figure 4: Lead excavator Benyamin Tarus recovers a Stegodon jaw from Liang Bua caveSource:http://djuna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Hobbits/G0000ZQ7jeC.BIVE/I00009wdBUXawv7k

Fossil: New species or Microcephalic?

Features indicate new species.

Figure 5: H. floresiensis (left) compared to a human Microcephalic (right)Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floresiensis

Physical: Bone Structure and Physical Appearance

Figure 7: H. Floresiensis vs. H. Sapien source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/tag/mystery/page/5/

Figure 6: H. Floresiensis head and skullSource: http://livelikedirt.blogspot.com/2011/01/hunt-for-homo-floresiensis-dna.html

Extreamly small in stature

small bodies small skulls some primative features

Physical: Brain Function and Social Habbits

Figure 8: H. Floresiensis and a freshly killed pygmie elephant (artist impression)Source: http://www.sciencephoto.com/images/download_lo_res.html?id=694380155

small skull means they had small brain however they used fire, tools and hunted in groups 

Physical: Any Other Specific Adaptations

Arms designed for swinging but also capable of tool makingalthough trapezoid would've complicated this

Figurre 10: H. floresiensis skeleton source: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/05/27/ 4222_ntnews.html

Figure 9: H. floresiensis vs. modern human trapezoid boneSource: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12667-hobbit-wrist-bones-suggest-a-distinct-species.html

Environmental: Inhabitence

Lived on the Island of Flores in Indonesia approximately 13,000 to 95,000 years ago.

Particularly inhabited the eastern coast and the Liang Bua Caves and region

Figure 11:Liang Bua Caves http://djuna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Hobbits/G0000ZQ7jeC.BIVE/I0000wggVhIYZA_g

Figure 12:Flores Island http://djuna.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Hobbits/G0000ZQ7jeC.BIVE/I0000wggVhIYZA_g

 

 

Environmental: Climate and Landscape

Tropical and Humid ConditionsMonsoon seasons- dry and wetCoastal breezes

Coastal landscape which consisted of vast amounts of flora and mountainous off the coast

Figure 11:Female Homo Floresiensis modelhttp://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/new-look-

hobbits/

 

Shared the Island and ate:Komo DragonsLarge Island and prehistoric RodentsGoannasPygmy and Stegodon ElephantsOmnivore so ate local flora Om

Environmental: Who else lived on the island and whad they eat?

Believed to have interacted with Homo Sapien or modern man between 5,000-35,000 years ago.

Figure 12: Homo Floresiensis Hunting

http://www.georgehernandez.com/ h/aablog/2004/11.asp

 

UseUs

Environmental: Tools and Hunting

Made stone tools similar to spears and rocks for hunting.Made fires for warmth and cooking kill. Hunted in groups due to them being small and unable to carry large kill.

Figure 13: Stone Tools http://www.weltbildung.com/homo-floresiensis.htm

 

 

Environmental: How they got to Flores

Unsure exactly but believed that could have swam, just ended up here or even created primitive

rafts and ventured until they found stable land.

 

Many theroies including:• Microcephaly• Insular/island dwarfing• Laron Syndrome• Endemic cretinism

  

Island Dwarfing and Size Theories

Figure 14: MicrocephalicSource: http://blurredproductions.wordpress.com /2008/05/22/crossing-the-line-freaks/

Figure 15: Laron Syndrome Source: http://doctordavidsblog.blogspot.com/

 

Please see data sheet for references and image references under image.

Bibliography